GSA's Building Programme Extends to Asia

Global Student Accommodation (GSA), which recently revealed plans to build over 3,000 student beds in the UK as part of a £300 million construction programme across the UK, has now revealed plans to target Asia.

The company has entered a partnership with Star Asia Group, an independent management group, to develop student accommodation in Japan.

GSA Star Asia KK was created to develop student accommodation to support the Japanese government's growth in higher education strategy.

The partnership will open its first student accommodation scheme in 2018. Situated in Tokyo's district of Bunkyo-ku, the accommodation will consist of 364 student beds.

The new purpose-built student accommodation will be available to both international and domestic students and will include facilities such as communal lunges, study areas and a theatre room.

It's reported around 80% of Tokyo's university population lives in private rented accommodation and there's an increasing requirement to fulfil the demand of student accommodation in the city.

The country plans to attract 300,000 international students to the country by 2020 and reported a 13% year-on-year increase in 2015.

Commenting on the project, Simon Loveridge, managing director of Asia Pacific of GSA, said: "Japanese students are ready for this new concept in student communal living, built on high quality design and aimed at building a strong community of local and international students."

GSA already owns student housing across six countries and also plans to substantially increase its foothold in the Irish market with a EUR 250m investment.